BORUSSIA Monchengladbach were last night claiming victory in the race for Dutch striker Luuk de Jong.

But Newcastle United have not given up hope of landing the FC Twente star and more talks are set to take place between the Dutch club and Derek Llambias, who is in Holland, over the next 24 hours.

The Newcastle managing director is still hoping to return to Tyneside over the next few days with 21-year-old De Jong’s signature, but he now faces a straight fight with his German counterparts.

Monechengladbach yesterday briefed the German media that they believed a bid of £9million, plus some add-ons depending on appearances, had been accepted by FC Twente and the player would agree a four-year deal with the Bundesliga side pending a medical.

Kicker magazine in Germany, the country’s most popular and respected sports publication, yesterday claimed that the deal was done between De Jong and the Germans, who are in the Champions League playoffs after finishing fourth last season.

Steve McClaren, the FC Twente manager, does not want to sell his best player unless any club came in with what he called stupid money.

And yesterday the Englishman said: “We have complete control. Nobody has to leave. Only an absurd bid could take Luuk away.

“We needed to sell a player to balance the books. The transfer of Ola John to Benfica means we break even, so the pressure is off.”

McClaren was also adamant that Douglas, his Brazilian defender and long-time Newcastle signing target, was going nowhere.

He said: “If Douglas is fit, he is the best defender in Holland. I don’t want to lose him and neither do the team.”

But the reality of football in Holland right now is that no club can realistically turn down any big offer for their players.

Meanwhile, Newcastle have at long last sold reserve team goalkeeper Fraser Forster to Celtic for a fee of £2million.